Automatic thermal valve actuator



y 26, 1932' E. A. LOWE ET AL ,859,

AUTOMATIC THERMAL VALVE ACTUATOR Filed Feb. 7. 1927 INVENTORS Emesz A Low John R Hami/fon 57 7} WOW..

Patented July 26, 1932 lTE :x TA E ERNEST A. LOWE AND aonu n. I-XAMILTOIT, or onnvnnaivn zinrena's onio, Assmnons T0. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY or AMERICA, orcnnvnrnnn, orrro, Anon- PORATION or DELAWARE AUTOMATIC nnnivmn vAL-vn no uA oR :a iicat oa filed. February 7, is27. iser a no. 166 2s4[ j Gur present invention relates to that kind of fire extinguishing systems in which the opening of a valve by the melting of a fuse or similar slow acting thermostat-and fre qucntlyv termed a sprinkier head is the means for controlling or causing the opening of the main valve admitting water or other fire extinguishing medium to the distributing piping'to which the sprinkler head is attached. The invention is particularly'useful in connection with a system wherein the opening of the main valve is due to release of pressure in the distributing piping thus relieving'the main valve of a pressure tending to hold it closed. A well known formj of apparatus acting on this principle is called a dry pipe system; The invention relates particularly to means-for quickening the action-of the apparatus in supplying theiire extinguishing medium at'the outletor outlets forming the sprinkler heads when fire occurs in the premises protected. The inventionjwill be described in Connection with a dry pipe sys tern having pressure of air in the distributing piping. In the usual dry pipe' system an an pressure is carried in" the pipingsystenn the purpose of which is tokeep the main drypipe valve betweenthe source of fluid'sup'ply and the piping in its closed position. This air pressure is relieved through the opening of a sprinkler head or other device from the heat of fire. When this occurs air escapes and the air pressure diminishes to afpr'edeterrnined pressure point atwhich the dry pipe valve will automatically operate and deliver Water or other fire extinguishing medium to the piping and'to the sprinkler head opened by the fire. In systems of considerable size there is an undesirable delay due to the time'n'e-cessary to diminish air pressure sufficient to operate the Valve which in some casesamounts to several minutes, during which time the fire continues to grow in magnitude and insome cases actually fanned bythe air issuing from the sprinklerhead. One of the purposes of our present invention is to r educe thisp'eriod of delay by a combination of devices termed us an automatic thermal valve actuator functioning to" cause the pipe valve to act before the sprinkler head operates and by theheat of a iire which if allowed to increase will, eventually open the sprinklerhead and the system operate as above described. Another purpose of our" inventionis to. provide for the giving of-an alarm or-sig'nal in connection withtheoper:

ation of a'fire' extingui shi'ng'system or the particular: character described beforea fusible'sprinkler head opens or Water damage starts' thus permitting the extinguishing of the fire by such devices as areknown as first aiddevi'ces. y Inour prior applioation'serial No; 163,629, filed Jan. 26, 1927, 'we have shown how the opening of the'main valve which is mor mallycau'sed to open by the relief of press'urein the distributing piping whenthe sprinkler-f head opens maybe automatically advanced-by utilizing the force of expansion of a'heated body of confined air exposed to heat ng in'the zone protected by the sprinkler head, and in that application we show and describe the advance operation as being effected by the expansionof air normuyun: der pres'surein thef 'main distributing pip-l ing; In our present invention weemploy an independent oi supplemental I airpi'p'e carried from the neighborhood of the main valve to o'r over thearea to be protected by the sprinkler head and {there adapted to loperate as a healtdetectorandairexpanding device, said piping being preferably provided in 'such'are'a with heating units or air containers "as hereinafter more": particularly, described. Thefforce of expans on '-0f the T heated airacts on responsive means" at the main valve to control the operationtherebf and preferably through the intervention ofanair valve-which opensfa connection for air under pressure to said mZI- II LVQJlVGWhICl} is applied thereto in away to cause said main valve to open. Inasmuch as said air pipingis independent of the main distributing piping it is not necessary to maintain a normal air pressure therein as is required in the apparatus described in our prior ap plication above referred to. The operating air pressure which thus causes the main valve .7 to open is preferably derived from the main distributing pipe of the dry pipe system but might. be derived from other sources wlt-hout departing from our invention.

Our invention consists also in the special combinations of apparatus and details of construction more" particularly hereinafter described for increasing the simplicity and effectiveness of the apparatus.

In the drawing we show in general side elevation and partial section aform of ap-.

paratus'suitable for the practice of our invention. V

The drawing shows atyplcal .dry pipe sprinkler system in which 1 is the, water supply, 2 is a manually operated control valve, 3 a waterway through the dry pipe valve 6 in which 4 is the water clapper that normally restrains the supply of water. 5 is an air clapper of larger size subjected to air pressure derived from the distributing sys temand flexibly connected to 4 for the purpose of keeping it normally on its seat. Ob-

viously a decrease of pressure of sufficient amount upon the face of the clapper exposed to the pressure in the distributing system will permit the clapper and parts connected with it, includingthemain'valve 4, to move and thereby open the passage for the flow of the fire extinguishing medium into the distributing system. '7 indicates a system of piping under air pressure with branch pipe 8 to which are connected thermostatically controlled automatic sprinklers 9 of thefuse controlled type shown or similar type or other outlets for the fire extin- -weight pivoted at 15 and held in an upright position by detent.16 in contact with projecting arm 25'. The detent 16 may in time of fire be pushed downward to trip the weight sure 18. r

21 represents one or more air containers,

by pressure behind diaphragm .17 which formsa flexible wall of diaphragm encloin thearea to be protectedand constructed 7 preferably of good conducting material and of large cubic capacity so as to readily increase air pressure in the piping 20 when they are heated. Pipe or tubing 20 is the pipe of the supplemental system of air piping to which is connected diaphragm chamber 18. This piping or tubing contains air at normal atmospheric pressure. The tubing is preferably provided with a compensating vent 19 'of such size as to dispelto the atmosphere any pressures resulting from the normal rates of rise and fall of heat in the building or area of fire protec" tion but of such size as tonot dissipate the quick or abnormal increases of pres sure generated by fire conditions. The pressure of air in the piping 20 and its connections being thus modified and said piping being normally sealed excepting at the air vent 19, it is obvious that fire pressures will extend diaphragm 17 downward, rotating detent 16 around its pivot point 16, allow ing weight 15 to swing to the right around 7 its pivot point 15. The weight, by striking the end of the valve stem 14, will force valve 11 from its seat 12 and allow the air pressure from any source but preferably-from 7 to enter intermediate chamber 23 of dry pipe valve 6. f

A specially designed check valve 24 serves to. permit the escape of slight leakage tov the atmosphere but when valve'll is opened as above described, the rush of air forces the valve 24 against its seat and permits the same air pressure to act under disk 5 ashas heretofore acted on its upper surface.

Air disk '5 being thus thrown into a balanced'state, primarily through increase of temperature and pressure of air, in the supplemental air piping and connections, the

water pressure 1n 3 opens valve4 and air clapper 5 permitting water to enter the system, forcing the air pressure into the ends of the lines and partially filling thepiping system in which sprinkler heads, such as 9,

may later open, discharging water practically immediately from the said sprinkler head. i a

The advantage of this automatic thermal 7 valve actuator is not only in the delivery of water to the sprinkler head before the latter opens but also in enabling the dry pipe valve when it operates to sound an alarm through the alarm attachment usually provided for this type of valve. Thus an alarmrwould be sounded in advance of the sprinkler head operating, permitting the extinguishing of fireby such devices as are known as first-aid devices or enable the calling of the regular fire department. The alarm indicated generally at 71 may thus have a controlling switch 67 inposition'to be closed by the weighted lever 15 whenever the latter is released or moved to-itsvalve actuating position as' shown for example in dotted lines. in the drawing. *Also for the same purpose We might employ an alarm attachment operating by a water motor to Whichv Water is admitted as soon, as the main valve opens, as described in our prior application, Serial No. 103,189,filed April 20, 1926.

lWhilevve have described ourzautomatic thermal valve actuatorattached to the particular type of main dry. pipe valve shown in Fig. 1, we do not, of course, wish to limit the application of ourautomatic thermal valve actuator 'to this standard dry pipe valve since, aswill be readily seen by those familiar With the art, the same general'principle of actuating any sprinkler system valve in advance of a sprinkler head operating can be applied to all types of such valves.

What- We claim as our invention is:

1. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination With the distributing piping con+ taining air under pressure, of a main valve normally held closedby such air pressure and controlling the admission of a fire extinguishing medium to the distributing pipes and having means unseating the same by the force of air pressure, a thermosta ically controlled sprinkler head connected to the piping, a supplemental piping contain mg air, a valve controlling the passage of the unseating air-pressure to said main valve and means controlled by the increase of air pressure in said supplemental piping resulting from fire conditions in the area to be protected by the sprinkler head for bringing the last-named valve into action.

2. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a main piping containing a fluid under pressure, a valve'controlling the supply of the extinguishing medium to the piping and normally maintained in closed position by the pressure of the fluid in said piping but adapted to open on decrease of said pressure, a thermostatically controlled sprinkler head connected to the piping, a supplemental sensitive thermostat acting more promptly than the sprinkler head and consisting of a system of fluid containing piping independent otthe main piping so as to be unaflected by changes of pressure in said main piping and means responsive to increase of fluid pressure in said supplement system of piping due toincrease of temperature adjacent said sprinkler head for applying to said valve a force acting positively on the same to unseat itagainstthe pressure tending to maintain it closed; 7 l

3. In a fire extinguishing system, distributing pipe for the fire extinguishing medium, a differential automatic main valve, held normally closed by the pressure of fluid in the distributing pipe and adapted to open by the relief of said pressure, automatic sprinkler heads connected to said pipe, a supplemental system of air piping extending from the main valve to the area to be protected and means subject to the pressure of air in said supplemental piping for auto.-

matically admitting fluid under pressure to a valve chamber wherein such pressure tends in the distributing pipe,a thermostatically controlled outlet connected to said pipe, a supplemental system of air piping extended from the zone protected by said outlet to the location of the main valve and having a restricted compensating air vent and containing air at normal atmospheric pressure, a. chamber adapted to receiveand apply 'unseating fluid under pressure for causing the main valve to open against the normal pressure of air. in the distributingpiping and I means for automatically admitting fluid under pressure thereto controlled by an iiicrease of air pressure in the supplemental system of piping, which is not compensated by i said vent, said means normally-acting to admit fluid under pressure to the chamber in advance of the thermostatic operation of the outlet.

5. In a thermostatically controlled. automatic fire extinguishing system, the combination With a distributin main containin air 1 C:

under pressure and provided With a normally closed fire extinguishing outlet, a thermostat for causing said outlet to open on a predetermined increase of temperature for discharg ing the extinguishing fluid, a valve control.- ling the supply of the extinguishing medium to the distributing main normally held closed by the normal pressure in the distributingmain but adapted to open automatically upon decrease of said pressure produced by the opening of an outlet, of a supplemental air piping, pressure producing means connected therewith andlocated in the fire zone protected by said outlet, an air vent for modifying small changes in pressure in said air piping, and means connected With said supplemental piping and responsive to a substantial increase of air pressure therein for normally causing theapplication of an unseating force to said valve before any substantial decrcase'in pressure in said distributing main may occur.

. 6. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination wvith distributing piping for the fire extinguishing medium, a thermostati cally controlled outlet connected thereto, a controlling'valve controlling the supply of fire extinguishing medium to the'piping and automatically responsive to a decreaseof the normally maintained fluid. pressure in said [the supplemental piping, a restricted outlet -for said supplemental piping for modifying the rate of rise of pressure therein and means responsive toiincrease of pressure at a greater than the adjusted rate for causing fluid pressure to be applied to operate the said control valve in advance'of the operation of the thermostatically controlled outlet and means for. unseating said valve through the action of said admitted air pressure.

7. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination with a distributing piping normally containing air under pressure and a valve for causing a supply of fire extinguishing medium to flow thereto, said valve being normally held closed by. the air pressure in said piping, thermostatically controlled means for releasing said air pressure and means for operating said valve in advance of the action of said thermostatically controlled releasing means, said operating means comprising a separate system of piping containing air sub-, ject to heating in the zone protected through said piping and connected to means responsiveto increase in pressure therein, a control'valve controlling the application of an unseating fluid pressure to the first-named valve, a trip deviceactuated by said responsive means and means controlled by said trip device for operating said control valve.

8. In a dry pipe fire extinguishing system having a main piping containing air under pressure, the combination With thermostatic means for releasing said air pressure, a main valve. normally maintained in closed position by air pressure in the main piping acting against the valve unseating influence of the fire extinguishing fluid supply, a supplemental system or" air piping out side the main piping and containing air subject to increase the pressure by heating in the zone of said thermostatic releasing means and means controlled by increase of air pressure in the latter for admitting an unseatin g air pressure fromthe main pipe to a chamber wherein it may act on the main valve in a direction to unseat the same andin advance of the action of said thermostatic releasing means. v r

9. In a fire extinguishing system, the com bination of adry pipe system of piping, a valve controlling the flow of fire extinguishing medium to said piping and normally held in closed position by the air pressure in said piping acting in opposition to the pressure of said medium upon the valve, means for causing said valve to open by an unseating pressure applied thereto in opposition to the seating pressure and normally inactive, thermostatic means for releasing the air pressure in the piping and means for oper-' ating .said valve in advanceof the action of the air releasing means, said means comprising a supplemental system of air piping containing air at normal atmospheric pressure and increasing in pressure by independent thermostatic action in the heat zone of the thermostatic. air releasing means and independent of piping of the dry-pipe system and means controlled by increase of pressure in said supplemental air piping for applying the'uns eating pressure to the control valve for the fire extinguishing medium.

10. In a dry pipe fire extinguishing system, the combination with a control valve controlling the supply of fire extinguishing medium to the system and normally maintained in closed position by the pressure of fluid in the system but adapted to open automatically upon decrease of thefluid pressure therein thermo-responsive means in the fire zone for automatically decreasing said pressure, a supplemental system of air piping extend ing from the area to be protected to the control valve, means for causing the main valve to be unseated by the application of fluid under pressure operating in opposition to the pressure acting to normally maintain the valve closed, a valve controlling the passage of the unseating fluid and means for bringing the latter valve into operation through the expansion of air in said supplemental system. produced by heat in the fire zone wherein the said thermo-responsive means are located.

11. In a dry pipe fire extinguishing system, the combination with a control valve controlling the supply. of fire extinguishing medium to the system and normally maintained in closed position by the pressure of fluid in the system but adapted to open automatically upon decrease of the fluid pressure therein, thermo-responsive means in the fire zone for automatically decreasing said pressure, a' supplemental system of air piping extending from the area to be protected to the control valve, and means for causing said valve to open by application of unseating pressure of fluid applied to the main valve in opposition to the pressure tending to holdthe same closed and admitted thereto by the'controlling action of the pressure of air heated in said supplemental system in the fire area wherein said thermo-responsive means are located. I

12. In a fire extinguishing system having a main piping containing fluid under pressure, the combination with thermostatic means for'releasing said pressure, a'main valve formed with a chamber 'for receiving unseating fluid under pressure and normally maintained in closed position by the pressure in the main piping acting against the valve unseating influence of the fire extinguishing fluid supply, asupplemental syssupplemental system for admitting unseattem of piping independent of the main piping and containing air subject to increase of pressure by heat in the zone of said thermostatic releasing means and means controlled by increase of a1r pressure in sald ing fluid under pressure to said chamber of the main valve for action thereon in a direction to unseat the same in advance of the action of said thermostatic releasing means.

Signed at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, this 5th day of February, A. D. 1927.

ERNEST A. LOWE.

JOHN R. HAMILTON. v 

